Rabbit hole leads to Templar cave

by Sumahid Chowdhury

In the Caynton Cave, near Shifnal, in Shropshire, a farmer found a rabbit hole which turned out to a sanctuary belonging to the Knights Templar. Inside lies a network of hallways, arches, and walkways. The grotto was described as cramp with spiders as the only inhabitants.

The Knights Templar was one of many knightly orders in Europe. Officially known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, they were famous for their involvement in the Crusades. Many who are familiar with the Order may know them as fearsome warriors fighting in the Crusades.

They started out as humble pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem but but then became occupied by brigands and zealous Seljuk Turkish warbands. These poor pilgrims took up arms to protect themselves and others.

Though the Knights Templar is thought to be full of gallant and chivalrous knights is somewhat true, only 10% of the Order actually has knights. Most act as money handlers, handling finances which proves to be early forms of banking.

The Knights Templar gained attention throughout Christendom when the Mongols and Muslim armies took back the Holy Lands, losing their initial popularity. Rumors about how the Templars initiated new recruits created distrust within the masses.

In the 14th century, King Philip IV of France—in debt to the Knights Templar—took the opportunity to attack them. He accused them of heresy, forcing false confessions, and arrested many Templars in France. He had tortured and executed via burning at the stake. The last grandmaster of the Templars was Lord Jacques de Molay.

The Knights Templar continue to be prominent in popular culture due to the emergence of the word templar being used in fantasy settings such as Dungeons & Dragons and Dragon Age. The importance of finding a grotto said to belong to them is extremely important, given that it is a 17th century safeplace, creating intrigue and mystery long after their disbanding.